Straight-bar knitting machine



Sept. 20, 1938. H. w. START ET A1. I 2,130;708

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. .'51, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIFIIIIIIIIIII!` IIIIIIIIIIIIE Patented Sept. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES STRAIGHT-BAR KNITTING MACHINE Harry Wilfred Start, Carlton, and Ernest Start, Wilford, England Application December 31, 1937, Serial No. 182,874 In Great Britain November 12, 1936 4 Claims.

This invention relates to straight-bar knitting machines of the Cotton type, and it refers to improvements in the means which are employed in such machines for fashioning garments such 5 as hose. Its object is to get more perfect results in the fashioned garments produced on such machines.

'I'he fashioning of garments on` such machines is effected by transferring loops, and this process is effected by means of what are termed transfer points, which are adapted to take loops from a certain number of needles at both edges of a garment, move these loops inwards one or more needles as required, and then replace them on the needles again in the new position.

In order to eiect this operation, a set of transfer points is provided at each edge of the work, and each set is, when loops have to be transferred a space of two needles at a time, divided into inner and outer groups, that is, an inner group of about fifteen points and an outer group ofsay three or four times that number. Each inner group of points can be closed-up to the outer group to form one continuous set, or the inner group can be moved away from its outer group, so as to leave a gap between the two groups which is usually the width of one needle space.

Two of these sets of points are provided in each division of the machine, and the inner and outer groups of transfer points in one set in each division, are carried on independent brackets secured to two longitudinal bars, and the inner and outer groups in the other set in each 1,1 division, are also carried by brackets secured to two further longitudinal bars, and these four longitudinal bars which are carried along the full length of the machine are disposed in the narrowing frame, and are adjustable longitudinally in order to provide means whereby the two outer groups of transfer points in each division of the machine can be adjusted independently of the two inner groups.

For instance at the commencement of a loop transferring operation, the inner groups of transfer points in each set, are disposed one needle space away from the outer group in the same set, and after descending and taking aseries of loops from the needles, the outer group must be moved inwards two needles and the inner set moved inwards one needle, thus closing up the space betwen the two groups of transfer points before replacing the loops on the needles again.

The object of this action is to avoid the placing of the two superfluous loops on two adja- (Cl. (i6-89) cent needles, and thereby forming a prominent suture in the work. With the arrangement described, the two superfluous loops are placed on two needles which areisome distance apart, and two sutures are formed, which are not so prominent as one suture and the garment has a much better appearance.

In order to provide for this action, the longitudinal bars which carry the inner groups of points must be controlled by mechanism which is independent of that employed for controlling the bars which carry the outer groups of points, and the problem has hitherto been met by duplicating the screw mechanism which is ordinarily used for adjusting the longitudinal bars.

According to the present invention, one screw mechanism only is employed for adjusting the four longitudinal bars, and the closing together of the inner and outer group of points in each set is controlled by levers, which are associated with the two screw nuts on the right and left hand threaded vportions of the one screw shaft. The action of these levers which are connected by means of tappets to two of the longitudinal bars'is controlled by a bar which normally holds down the free ends of the said levers and is raised at the required time when loops are being transferred.

The invention will now be more particular described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation. showing two of the sets of transfer points which are employed in each division of the machine, and the left-hand portion of the controlling mechanism constructed according to our invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing the right hand portion of the controllingmechanism.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section of the loop transfer mechanism to which our invention is applied.

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section of the machine drawn to a smaller scale than Figs. l to 3.

Fig. 5 is a view of the toe part of a stocking foot which is fashioned in the manner hereinbefore described.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

As shown in Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, the two sets of transfer points in each division of themachne are carried as usual on four longitudinal bars A, B, C, and D extending along the full length of the machine, `and these bars are carried in the narrowing frame in the usual manner and are longitudinally adjustable.

The outer group of transfer points E at the left of each division in the machine are carried by a bracket E1 secured to the bar C, and the inner group F of points in this set are carried by a bracket F1 secured to the bar A.

The outer group of points G in the set at the right of each division are carried by a bracket G1 secured to the bar D, and the inner group of points H in this set are carried by a bracket H1 secured to the bar B. The two inner sets of transfer points F and H are thus controlled by the longitudinal bars A and B, and the two outer sets E and G are controlled by the longitudinal bars C and D.

Above the longitudinal bars described is a screw threaded shaft M, and disposed on this screw shaft' are two screw threaded nuts N and O. This screw threaded shaft is actuated as is usual by ratchet wheel and pawl mechanism controlled by a pattern chain or like mechanism.

In the present. arrangement a shaft J is disposed below the screw threaded shaft M, andon this shaft are two sliding members K and L.

The sliding member K on the shaft J is connected to the screw nut N which is on a righthand screw threaded part of the screw shaft M, while the sliding member L on the shaft J is connected to the screw nut O which is on a lefthand screw threaded part of the screw shaft M, and as a result, rotation of this screw shaft M moves the sliding members K and L on the shaft J in reverse directions.

The sliding member K on the shaft J has a downwardly projecting tappet member K1, and at the back of this member K1 is a sliding bolt K2. The tappet member K1 on the slide K engages with a normal tappet B1 at the back of the longitudinal bar B, while the lower end of the bolt K2 engages with a normal tappet D1 on a bracket D2 secured to the back of the longinr tudinal bar D. Both of these bars B and D and the inner and outer groups of points H and G on the right of each division, are thus connected to and can be moved to the left or inwards by the screw nut N on the screw threaded shaft M.

The other sliding member L on the shaft J (see Fig. 2) has a downwardly projecting tappet member L1, and at the back of this extension is a sliding bolt L2, and. the tappet member L1 engages with a. normal tappet A1 at the back of the longitudinal bar A, whilst the lower end of the bolt L2 engages with a normal tappet C1 at the back of the longitudinal bar C, and these two bars A and C and the inner and outer groups of points F and E on the left of each division in the machine, are thus connected to and can be moved to the right or inwards by the screw nut O on the screw threaded shaft M.

By raising the bolts K2 and L2 which engages with the normal tappets D1 and C1 on the longitudinal bars D and C, these two bars and the outer groups of points E and G which are connected thereto, can be put out of action when they are not required, for instance when fashioning a stocking leg. Y

The longitudinal bar B is further connected to the sliding member K and the longitudinal bar A connected to the slide K by the following arrangement.

Pivoted on the sliding member K is a lever K3 provided with an anti-friction roller K4 at its upper end which is disposed under a lever depressing bar P. This bar P is carried by arms P1 on a rocking shaft Q, which is like the previ- Vously mentioned shafts M and J, carried in bearings in the narrowing frame. The depressing bar P is normally held down by a spring P2 so as to hold the upper end of the lever K3 down as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. This lever K3 when held down as described, acts upon an extra tappet B2 on a bracket B3 which is secured to the longitudinal bar B, and holds the inner group of transfer points H on the right of each division a short distance away from the outer group of points G, and at the same time holds the normal tappet B1 on the bar B a corresponding distance from the tappet member K1 on the sliding memberV K as shown in Fig. 1.

This distance which corresponds to one needle space, is regulated by an adjustable stop B4 on the bracket B3 which is moved up to the tappet member K1 on the sliding member K, and held there by the depressed lever K3.

The two groups of points E and F on the left of each division, are controlled by a duplicate arrangement to that provided in connection with the two groups of points H and G, and this duplicate arrangement which will not be described is shown in Fig. 2.

Pivoted on the sliding member L on'the shaft J is a lever L3 which corresponds tothat K3 on the sliding member K, but this lever is in the reverse position to the lever K3. The upper end of this lever L3 is provided with an anti-friction roller L1 disposed under lthe depressing bar P previously described, and when the upper end of this lever L2 is held down by the said bar P as shown in Fig. 2, it acts upon an extra tappet A2 on a bracket A3 secured to the bar A, and holds the inner group of points F on the left of the division, which is secured to this bar A, the required distance from the outer group E, as shown in Fig. 1, and at the same time holds the normal tappet A1 on this bar A the same distance from the tappet member L1 on the sliding member L, as shown in Fig. 2. The space between the two groups of points E and F is in this case regulated by an adjustable stop A4 in the bracket A3 which is held up to the tappet member4 L1 on the sliding member L by the depressed llever L3.

The action of the arrangement described will now be describedwith reference to one set of transfer points H and G, but it will be understood that the other set of points E and F will be at the same time actuated in precisely the same manner.

It will be seen that the longitudinal bar B to which the inner groups of transfer points H is connected is provided with two tappets and a stop, that is, a normal tappet B1 on one side of the tappet member K1 on the slide K, another eXtra tappet B2 for the lever K3 to engage with on the other side of the tappet member K1, and a stop B4 which is when the lever K3, is depressed held up to the tappet member K1, whilst the normal tappet B1 is held a short distance away from the tappet member K1 on the slide K.

Now if while the lever K3 is held down by the depressing bar P, the slide K is moved to the left by the screw shaft M a distance equal to the space of two needles, both groups of points I-I and G will move the same distance, as the lever K3 will continue to hold the stop B4 on the bar B up to `the tappet member K1 of the slide K, and the member K1 will also engage with the tappet D1 on the bar D to which the group of needles Gare connected. In this case the space between the two groups of points H and G will not be closed-up. On the other hand if the slide K is moved to the left when the lever K3 is released and raised by its spring K5, the tappet member K1 on the slide K, will have to move to the left one needle space, before it engages with the normal tappet Bl on the bar B, and as a result the group of points I-I will only be moved one needle space to the left, whilst the group of needles G will be moved two needle spaces to the left as before, and the space between the two groups of points H and G will be closed up.

In actual loop transferring operations, the inner groups of transfer points H, are normally held one needle space away from the outer group G by the lever K2, but after descending and taking a series of loops from the needles R, the lever K3 is released by the depressing bar P, before the slide K is moved by the screw M, so that the group of points G is moved inwards two needle spaces and the group of needles I-I moved inwards only one space as previously described, before the removed loops are placed by the points on the fresh needles. On the completion of this operation, the outer group of points is moved outwardly one needle space in the same manner as stated above and the bar P is released and depressed by its spring P2 again and the lever K3 then moves the inner group of points I-I one needle space away from the outer group of points G ready for the next loop transferring operation.

It will also be understood that the other set of points on the left hand of the division comprising the two groups E and F will be operated in precisely the same manner by the previously described duplicate arrangement in connection therewith.

The object of the adjustments described is to avoid the disposition of the two superfluous loops on two contiguous needles, and thereby forming a single prominent suture in the work. With the .arrangement described the two superiiuous loops are placed on two needles, but these needles are some distance apart, and two sutures Y instead of one are formed in each side of the work as sho-wn in Fig. 5, which are not so prominent as a single suture would be and the garment has a much better appearance.

In order to raise the holding down bar P at the proper time, the following arrangement is preferably adopted. The rocking shaft Q which carries the holding down bar P (see Figs. 2 and 4) is geared to a second shaft S at one end of the machine, by means of a pair of toothed wheels S1, and this second shaft is provided with an arm T which extends towards the front of the machine, where a vertical link U provided with a catch U1 at its upper end is disposed. The lower end of this link is connected to one end of a bell crank lever V and the other end of this lever is provided with an antifriction lever V1 bearing on a cam W on the main cam shaft W1 of the machine.

When the narrowing frame on which the mechanism described is disposed, is raised after taking the loops from the needles, the free end of the arm T on the second shaft S engages with the catch U1 on the vertical link U, and the respective parts are so disposed, that the shaft Q which carries the holding down bar P is then turned Aso as to raise the said bar P at the proper time,

so that the two levers K3 and L3 previously described are released, in order to permit of the outer groups of points being moved up to their inner groups of points as previously described just before the loops are returned to the needles R.

The link U with the catch U1 at its upper end is raised and lowered by the cam W, in order to provide means for timing with accuracy therelease of the arm T from the catch U1, and the latter is held in the path of the free end of the arm T by means of a slide U2 which also serves to draw the catch back out of action when not required.

The link U passes between two projections on the slide U2 and the projection that holds the catch Ul in its operative position is spring supported, so that it will yield and permit of the end of the arm T moving past the catch U1 when the said arm is moving down with the narrowing frame. The slide U2 is preferably moved into and out of its operative position by means of a cam lever U3 which is pivoted on the casing in which the slide is disposed, and a cam member U4 may if desired be provided on the link U, in order to move the catch Ul back clear of the arm T each time the link U is raised up to a certain point by the cam W.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. In straight-bar knitting machine loop transferring mechanism in which each set of points is comprised of two groups which are adjusted by screw nuts on right and left hand screw threaded portions of a shaft, the combination of two pairs of longitudinally adjustable bars, inner groups of points carried by brackets secured to one pair of bars, outer groups of points carried by brackets secured to the other pair, slides connected to the screw nuts withparts which are adapted to engage with tappets on and move the longitudinal bars carrying one set of points in the reverse direction to those carrying the other set, levers pivoted on the slides, means for connecting these levers to the longitudinal bars which carry the inner groups of points, means for holding down these levers in order to hold the inner groups of points the required distance from the outer groups, and means for releasing these levers. after the loops have been removed from and before they are returned to the needles, substantially as described.

2. In straight-bar knitting machine loop transferring mechanism in which each set of points is comprised of two groups which are adjusted by screw nuts on right and left hand screw threaded portions of a shaft, the combination of two pairs of longitudinally adjustable bars, inner groups of points carried by brackets secured to one pair of bars, outer groups of points carried by brackets secured to the other pair, slides connected to the screw nuts with parts which are adapted to engage with tappets on and move the longitudinal bars carrying one set of points in the reverse direction to those carrying the other set, levers pivoted on the slides, means for connecting these levers to the longitudinal bars which carry the inner groups of points, a bar for holding down these levers carried by arms on a rocking shaft, a spring for holding the bar down, and means for raising this bar and releasing these levers, after the loops have been removed from and before they are returned to the needles, substantially as described.

3. In straight-bar knitting machine loop transferring mechanism in which each set of points is comprised of two groups which are adjusted by screw nuts on the right and left hand screw threaded portions of a shaft, the combination of two pairs of longitudinally adjustable bars, inner groups of points carried by brackets secured to one pair of bars, outer groups of points carried by brackets secured to the other pair, slides connected to the screw nuts with parts which are adapted to engage with tappets on and move the longitudinal bars carrying one set of points in the reverse direction to those carrying the other set, levers pivoted on the slides, means for connecting these levers to the longitudinal bars which carry the inner groups of points, a bar for holding down the free ends of these levers carried by arms on a rocking shaft, a spring for holding this bar down, means for raising the bar comprising a second shaft to which the rocking shaft is geared, an arm on this second shaft disposed so that its free end engages with a catch when the narrowing frame rises, and a cam on the main shaft for controlling the catch, substantially as described.

4. In straight-bar knitting machine loop transferring mechanism in which each set of points is comprised of two groups which are adjusted by screw nuts on the right and left hand screw threaded portions of a shaft, the combination of two pairs of longitudinally adjustable bars, inner groups of points carried by brackets secured to one pair of bars, outer groups of points carried by brackets secured to the other pair, slides connected to the screw nuts with parts which are adapted to engage with tappets on and move the longitudinal bars carrying one set of points in the reverse direction to those carrying the other set, levers pivoted on the slides, means for oonnecting these levers to the longitudinal bars which carry the inner groups of points, a bar for holding down the free ends of these levers carried by arms on a rocking shaft, a spring for holding this bar down, means for raising the bar comprising a second shaft to which the rocking shaft is geared, an arm on this second shaft disposed so that its free end engages with a catch when the narrowing frame rises, a cam on the main shaft for controlling the catch, and means for moving the catch into and out of its operative position, substantially as described. K

HARRY WILFRED START. ERNEST START. 

